"<to be> in the tank for <someone>"

[Benjamin Zimmer]

I see Mark has already posted his query to the Usenet newsgroup
alt.usage.english, where it's generated a lot of discussion. Richard
Maurer and Mark Brader found a number of exx. on newsgroups for sports
and politics. The earliest using the full "in the tank for" expression
is from from Nov 8 1994:

    It is clear the networks and Newsweek went in the tank
    for Democrats to try to save them

And there's this from George H.W. Bush's speech accepting the
presidential nomination at the Republican National Convention, Aug 20,
1992:

    http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/shownomination.php?convid=5
    After all, my opponent's campaign is being backed by practically
    every trial lawyer who ever wore a tasselled loafer. He's not in the
    ring with them; he's in the tank.


--Ben Zimmer